The Japanese Food System Experience (So Far)

Greetings from Hayashima, Japan!

It's been about a month and a half since I left Connecticut to spend a year teaching English in Japan, and in that time I (and my stomach) have begun to get used to life here. I am by no means an expert on Japan's food system at this point, nor will I likely ever be, but there are some similarities and differences between the American way of producing and consuming food and the Japanese way of doing so that became clear almost as soon as I arrived.

Similarity: Both Japan and the United States have a country-wide food distribution network

This is a picture of Marunaka, a supermarket chain with a store right here in my town. This particular picture isn't of my town's store, but the one in Hayashima looks similar. There is parking available for both bikes and cars as many people (myself included) ride bikes around town. Marunaka stocks foods and household goods from all over Japan and is fairly sizable, although nowhere near as giant as a Costco or Super Walmart. Since arriving in Japan I haven't heard of or seen anything like that.


Difference: Japan's food distribution network focuses heavily on Japanese products
Or at least it does in my experience so far. And not only does it focus on Japanese-grown products, but also regional and local products. The Pione grape and white peach are both specialties of the region I am living in, and are available, seasonally, right as you walk into the store. Local fish from the inland sea near my town makes up a large percentage of the seafood selection, and even dry goods like rice have labels displaying what prefecture the grains came from.

Rethink Your Cellphone and the Global Food System

For many, cellphones are used for a few primary services; communicating with others and (if you own a smartphone) staying connected to the internet and often times your Facebook page. Yet for farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa, having a cellphone could mean the difference between making a profit on your crop in the global market or none at all. 

FoodTank, an organization that has created a network of connections and information that offer solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our food system, has highlighted five major ways cellphones are changing agriculture in this region of Africa. Check them out:

1) Access to market prices: Mobile phones allow farmers to gain access to vital information about prices of crops before they travel long distances to markets. Cell phone services employ SMS text messaging to quickly transfer accurate information about wholesale and retail prices of crops, ensuring farmers can  negotiate deals with traders and improve their timing of getting crops to the market. SokoniSMS64 is one popular service used in Kenya to provide farmers with accurate market prices from around the country.

2) Micro-insurance: Cell phones are also used for a “pay as you plant” type of insurance. Kilimo Salama, meaning “safe agriculture” in Swahili, is a micro-insurance company that protects farmers against poor weather conditions. The insurance is distributed through dealers who utilize camera phone technology to scan and capture policy information through a code using an advanced phone application. The information is then uploaded to Safaricom’s mobile cloud-based server that administers policies. Farmers can then receive information on their policy, as well as payouts based on rainfall, in SMS messages. This is a paperless, completely automated process. 

3) iCow from M-Farm: This cell phone application calls itself “the world’s first mobile phone cow calendar.” It enables farmers to keep track of each cow’s individual gestation so farmers never miss the valuable opportunity to expand their herd. iCow also keeps track of feed types and schedules, local veterinary contact information, and precise market prices of cattle. 

4) Instant weather information: Mobile technology provides farmers with crucial weather data so they can properly manage their crops. Programs such as Tigo Kilimo in Tanzania give small-scale farmers instant weather information combined with appropriate agricultural tips. 

5) CocoaLink: This app makes use of western Ghana’s rapidly expanding mobile network to deliver important information to cocoa farmers. The World Cocoa Foundation created this program to provide free voice and SMS text messages about farm safety, child labor, health, and improvements in farming practices, crop disease prevention, and crop marketing. Farmers receive messages in English or their local language. 

It is amazing to see how technology is being used all over the world for more purposes than what we are accustomed to. It is also interesting to note that while we advocate for sustainable agriculture and organic farming which tends to stray from the technological advances of the modern world such as those used in industrial agriculture, people of other areas of the world are utilizing technology in a way that advances their profits and maintains their livelihood of being a farmer.

Have a great afternoon!

Katie

Make This Year's Farm Bill Count - Support Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act 2013

The Farm Bill. You know, that large (about $300 billion large) legislative package that rolls around every 5 years or so, intended to shape the future of our food system by setting standards for food production, food cost, nutrition, environmental health and rural development? Oh yeah, that one.

Five years have passed since 2008 when the last Farm Bill was implemented and while it was largely geared towards supporting industrial agriculture, progress was made to add new provisions that supported local and regional food systems in the United States. But like every Farm Bill, this one came with an expiration date of September 30th, 2012 and when Congress failed to agree on a new Farm Bill before that date (no surprise here) the bill was extended, returning the bill to it's permanent legislation and erasing those new provisions supporting healthy food and farms. Battle lost.

That is why supporting the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act is so important. It is a proposal to improve the upcoming 2013 Farm Bill and implement legislation that will allow for greater sustainable production of fruits, vegetables, and meats, expand access to healthy foods to consumers, and further improve the infrastructure and markets of regional and local food systems.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is one of the many organizations that is supporting this Act and is providing ways for you to take action as well. You can click here to show your support and tell Congress to cosponsor the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013!

Best,

Katie

Are You a New or Transitioning Organic Farmer?

If so, you should join us at our Getting Started in Organic Farming Conference! 

CT NOFA Getting Started in Organic Farming Conference

January 26, 2013

8:00am - 3:30pm

Goodwin College
One Riverside Drive
East Hartford, CT

 

This conference helps aspiring organic farmers develop successful farming careers by linking them with important resources and experts in the field.  Whether you're interested in farming for the very first time, or you've been farming for a while and want to learn more about how to work organically, this conference will provide you with valuable insight and support.

Here's some information about some of the conference presenters:

 

Wayne Hansen, Wayne's Organic Garden -Diverse “Tools” For Success in Organic Vegetable Production
How several tools, some small, some larger, some inexpensive, some not so, have helped me to create a productive growing situation on a tiny lot not obviously meant for growing and selling produce. How I got there may help you do the same.
 

Bio: I never knew what I wanted to do in life. Academia seemed like a trap to put me in an unimaginative job in a world without a soul. I've found a life in soil, weather, hard work, and the joy of good food. It's all been worth it.
 

Erin Pirro, Farm Credit East - Budgeting From the Bottom Up
It's good to have a plan. Before you have a plan, you have an idea - something on the back of a napkin about how you will run your business. A budget is a plan in numbers, designed to show you not just if it's worth it, but if it can take you where you need to go. A bottom-up budget is an easy-to-use technique to help you get there.

Bio: Erin Pirro has been helping farmers large and small make their businesses run better since 2001. As a Farm Business Consultant for Farm Credit East with a background in agricultural economics, Erin's focus has been on benchmarking and profitability improvement because sustainability means economics, too! At home, Erin's small family farm raises and markets sheep and wool products in southern New England.

Kerry and Max Taylor; Provider Farm - Starting a CSA for Long Term Success
CSAs are great but starting a CSA should not be taken lightly, and involves careful planning. We will address the benefits and draw backs of starting a CSA in your first year as well as lessons learned, tools for success and how our CSA fits into our whole farm plan.

Bio: Max and Kerry Taylor own and operate Provider Farm in Salem, CT. Provider Farm is a 200 share CSA, wholesale, and market biodynamic farm. We also maintain a small herd of beef cows on 20 acres of rotationally grazed pasture.

Adam Maikshilo, USDA NRCS - NRCS Opportunities for the Organic Producer 

NRCS can provide technical and financial assistance to organic producers utilizing Farm Bill programs. Who is eligible and how do you apply? Common conservation practices for an organic producer.

Bio: Adam has been a Soil Conservationist for CT NRCS for approximately 2 years. Previously worked as a Wildlife Technician for USDA - Wildlife Services for approximately 6 years. Graduated from UCONN with a degree in Natural Resources.
 

Kip Kolesinskas, Gaining Access to Quality Farmland
Participants will gain an overview of the common methods and sources for gaining access to affordable farmland, such as matching services. Opportunities on Municipal and Land Trust properties will also be explored. Basic elements of a good lease, technical resources, and its role in risk management will be discussed.
Presenter bio

Bio: Consulting Conservation Scientist, Formerly State Soil Scientist for CT /RI, USDA-NRCS, 35 years of experience. A.A.S. SUNY Cobleskill, B.S. Cornell University, Lancaster University, and Schumacher College -UK. Kip has been a major contributor in efforts to increase farmer access to land, develop farm friendly municipalities, and promote locally grown food.
 

Kim Stoner, CT Agricultural Experiment Station - Insect and Pest Management
Organic farmers need to think ahead about pest management. Plan to reduce pest damage by diversifying, using resistant varieties, and using other non-chemical strategies of control. Learn which pests can be tolerated, which can be managed at low levels, and which can appear suddenly and devastate a crop.

Bio: Kim Stoner has been the vegetable entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven since 1987. Her current research focuses on pollination and bees – including measuring exposure of bees to pesticides, monitoring native bee species, and studying pollination in pumpkins and squash.

Duncan Cox, Baystate Organic - Organic Certification
Duncan will explain how the organic certification process works. He will describe how crop, livestock, and processing operations large and small can become certified to the USDA National Organic Standards.

 

Bio: Duncan Cox has been inspecting organic farms and processors for Baystate Organic Certifiers since 2003, after first obtaining an MS in Soils from Washington State University, organically producing apples and onions in Washington State, and assisting farmers in both the Pacific Northwest and in South Carolina. 

In addition to these presentations, the conference will also feature a CSA Roundtable with Mark Gauger of Maple View Farm, Rodger Phillips of Grow Hartford, and Karen Pettinelli of Holcomb Farm.  During the roundtable, attendees will be split into small groups and be placed with one of the three roundtable speakers.  This will give attendees a greater opportunity to ask questions and start a dialogue with farmers who have had many years of experience with running a CSA program. 

You can learn more about the conference and register here.  If you have questions, or want to register over the phone, give us a call at 203.888.5146.

Hope to see you there!

-Melissa

Scrambling to Find the Perfect Holiday Gift?

There's been a lot of talk lately at the CT NOFA office about holiday gift giving and the staff's various levels of gift-buying/making completion. The holidays are a busy time of year, and that can mean there's not a lot of time available to buy or make meaningful gifts for loved ones. After all, no matter how well-intentioned or thoughtful our holiday gift-giving plans are, there are still only 24 hours in a day. Last year, a time crunch meant my husband had to make the vast majority of gift decisions in our household, but this year I was spared the stress of a last minute gift-buying bonanza because I knew where to look for locally-made products. If you are in the midst of wracking your brain for unique gift ideas, consider buying locally-produced items from Connecticut farms and winter farmers markets.

The USDA National Farmers Market Directory has seen a 52 percent increase in winter farmers markets this year. This, of course, means more opportunities to buy locally produced in-season foods for your holiday cooking. Winter markets, however, are also great places to go for unique locally-made gifts for family and friends. Items available at the markets can include fresh and preserved fruits and vegetables, dairy, meats, baked goods, eggs, nuts, honey, soaps, wool and fiber, Christmas trees, and holiday decorations. If you're throwing a holiday party, a larger market can literally cover all of your bases, providing food, decor, and gifts for the event. Check out a list of markets that feature at least one CT NOFA member farmer here, or click here for the CT Department of Agriculture's full holiday list.

Even if you can't make it to a farmers market in time to buy holiday gifts, many farms also offer goods for sale in the winter from farm stores and online. The second option is especially helpful if you're really busy - just don't forget to order far enough in advance to account for shipping time. Each farm sells their goods a little differently, so check out our Farm and Food Guide here to find farms in your area that you can visit.  You can also use the Guide as a database of farm websites that you can peruse when shopping online.

However you choose to complete your holiday shopping, don't forget to have fun and feel the spirit of the season! Have a great afternoon!
-Melissa

Want to Get More Involved with CT NOFA?

CT NOFA Board Members Sought!
CT NOFA is looking for board members with Fundraising, Legal and/or Volunteer Coordination Experience.

The Board member will:

1. Attend in-person meetings approximately every other month
2. Participate in conference call meetings on the alternate month
3. Participate or lead the appropriate committee of the Board, with separate meetings for committee
4. Attend CT NOFA events, have fun, eat great food and advocate for local, organic food and organic land care

Interested?
Please contact John Turenne, Vice-President of the CT NOFA Board.  You can learn more about the current CT NOFA board here.

CT NOFA is a growing community of farmers, gardeners, land care professionals, and consumers that encourages a healthy relationship to the natural world.  We are the largest and oldest organization in the state that educates about and advocates for local organic food, farming, and land care.  You can learn more about us and our mission here.

Urge Congress to Pass a Farm Bill This Year

From the National Center for Appropriate Technology:

As of this month, our nation’s food and farm policy in the form of the 2008 Farm Bill has officially expired, with no workable replacement moving forward in Congress. This has left critical low-cost but very high-value programs high and dry with no funding— and it means Congress missed the chance to make real reforms and an investment in an equitable, sustainable future for food and farms in America.

With no new farm bill or extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, the programs that address rural and urban job creation, training opportunities for beginning farmers, natural resource conservation, and access to healthy food are in big trouble. These are programs that NCAT has been part of and support our work to assist farmers and ranchers in building a more sustainable future.

Can Congress still finish a farm bill this year? YES!

There is a short window of time for Congress to finish the bill after Election Day. So when Congress returns to Washington, we’ll need YOU and other farmers and advocates across the country to tell them loud and clear: we need an equitable, sustainable 2012 Farm Bill!

Sign your name and tell Congress we need a 2012 Farm Bill that:
• Invests in the future of healthy farms, food, and people
• Protects our precious air, soil, and water
• Reforms farm subsidies and levels the playing field

Without a working Farm Bill, funding for many of the resources CT NOFA promotes to farmers will be in jeopardy.  The farm bill is one of the most important and influential pieces of legislation the United States government is in charge of.  Please sign the petition urging Congress to pass a farm bill by the end of the year.

Click here to sign the petition

A Farm for the Future - a Documentary

The BBC series Natural World focuses on wildlife around the globe.  One 45 minute episode, titled A Farm For the Future, delves into the idea of low energy farming as compared to our current high energy model, and the reasons why an immediate change in agricultural methods is necessary.  In my opinion, it's a well-developed film that provides not only a clear wake up call for farmers and consumers, but also tangible solutions for the future.  Here is the BBC's synopsis:

Wildlife film maker Rebecca Hosking investigates how to transform her family’s farm in Devon into a low energy farm for the future, and discovers that nature holds the key.

With her father close to retirement, Rebecca returns to her family’s wildlife-friendly farm in Devon, to become the next generation to farm the land. But last year’s high fuel prices were a wake-up call for Rebecca. Realising that all food production in the UK is completely dependent on abundant cheap fossil fuel, particularly oil, she sets out to discover just how secure this oil supply is. Alarmed by the answers, she explores ways of farming without using fossil fuel. With the help of pioneering farmers and growers, Rebecca learns that it is actually nature that holds the key to farming in a low-energy future.

Check out there first ten minutes of the film below.  View the full film here.

The documentary goes on to explain that a food system based on permaculture can not only eliminate the detrimental effects of conventional farming, but also, if done correctly and with care, be more productive with less effort in the long run than conventional agriculture.  That notion may seem a bit far fetched until you start to think about the power of nature.  Conventional farming today is so labor intensive in large part because it works against nature instead of with it.  It takes a lot of time and energy to force a forest into pasture, for example, but it requires a much smaller input to work with that same forested space to produce an equal quantity of food in a manner more consistent with how the forest would have grown in the first place.  Nature does an excellent job growing plants and raising animals, so why not use that to our own agricultural advantage instead of fighting with it?

To ensure an agricultural model that can feed all of us in the near future, it is essential that we all become informed farmers, gardeners, and consumers.  If you watch the film and agree with the argument it makes, share it with your friends.  Let's start looking at agriculture from a new perspective, and be open to the more sustainable possibilities that are available to us.

Have a great weekend!
-Melissa

The Drought and Supporting Local Farming

These photos were taken by NASA satellites almost exactly one year apart.  The bottom photo shows the Mississippi river in August, 2011 and the top photo shows the same section of river in August, 2012.  The large tan areas visible in the 2012 photo are huge sandbars that are exposed by the drought.  The drought threatens drinking water near the Mississippi River delta as a wedge of saltwater slowly moves up the river against the weakening current, and has also impacted shipping along the river since barges can no longer carry as many goods for fear of running aground. You can read more about this unprecedented situation here.

As we are all becoming increasingly aware, the drought has also had a huge impact on the corn crop in the US.  The USDA has released this map that details the extent of the drought, showing it's spread across much of the corn belt and other highly agricultural states.  However, the vast majority of the corn affected by the drought isn't used for direct human consumption - most of it is ultimately consumed, but in a processed or changed form.  The corn in question is mainly used for conventional animal feed, with some also going to create ethanol and additives for processed foods, like corn syrup.

This infographic shows that the drought won't greatly affect food prices in the grocery store since 86% of retail food costs are from third party fees like packaging, transportation, and processing.  This brings up another issue tangentially related to the drought - the issue of supporting your farmer. An average of around 20 cents of every dollar spent on conventionally produced food goes to the farmer, with slightly higher amounts going to farmers and ranchers raising livestock, and much lower amounts going to farmers who produce grains.  For a six pack of beer that costs $7.19, the farmer who grew the grain to produce it only got paid $.05. 

In a conventional food system, the vast majority of the money you spend on your food supports transportation, packaging, processing, and marketing costs.  It's true that this money employs people in those industries, but a local food system creates many farming jobs near home while reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing the nutritional value of the food grown.  This would connect people to their communities, making life better overall.  And in drought situations like the one we're in now, a local system made up of smaller more diverse farms growing many crops rather than monocultures would be much less susceptible to drought than the large one-crop farms we have now.

So what can you do?  The number one thing is to support your local farmer!  You can learn about farms, farmers markets, and CSA programs near you on our website.  Check them out, and make an effort to buy a significant portion of your food locally.  If you or someone you know is thinking about becoming a farmer, you can also check out our beginning farmer program which helps connect new farmers or people thinking about becoming farmers with the resources they need to become established. 

As a society, we can take control of our food system and make ourselves less vulnerable to extreme weather while ensuring a better future for our children - a future of better nutrition, a healthier environment, and a greater connectedness to the local community.  A future where farmers are an important part of every community, and receive just compensation for their hard work.  It can be done, one farmer and one consumer at a time.

Have a great Thursday,
Melissa

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

As the Farm Bill debate goes on and is in sharp contrast with a devastating drought that has affected agricultural yields across the country.  According to David Rogers at Politico, Republicans in the House might not call up the New Farm Bill for a vote before the law expires on September 30.  Rogers reports that no Farm Bill, once out of committee, has ever failed to be called for a vote.  In Rogers' article today, the House's Republican leadership is considering extending the old Farm Bill while Democratic Representatives Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) and Collin Peterson (Minnesota) insist that extension is not an option because the drought requires specific political action and there is agreement that direct cash payments to producers must be ended with the new Farm Bill.

Check out the hidden costs of the Farm Bill that's about to expire - it makes it pretty clear why these laws require replacement and the reasoning behind calls for improvements in the Farm Bill.  And also why the new Farm Bill's deep cuts to the Food Stamp program and nutrition programming are pretty disconcerting.  

Infographic from Takepart.com

Best,
Kristiane

CT NOFA Member Farms Spotted at the Coventry Farmers Market!

Sweet Acre Farm in Mansfield

Running June through October, the Coventry Farmers Market is the largest farmers market in the state of Connecticut, with dozens of vendors, many of whom are members of CT NOFA. Our Board Secretary, Janet Heller, went to visit the market recently and documented many of the CT NOFA member farms that were there to represent local organic farms and food.  Check out the farms' websites listed in the captions below their photos and pay them or the market a visit.  Shopping at a farmers market or visiting a local farm is a great way to spend some time outside on a nice summer's day while getting your grocery shopping done at the same time.  It's also a lot of fun for kids! 

Topmost Herb Farm in Coventry

Grow Hartford CSA

If you want to learn more about our other member farms and the farmers markets they attend, check out our listing online.  You can also download a PDF of our Farm and Food Guide, a listing by county of all our member farms, markets, and supporting businesses, complete with descriptions and maps, here.

Maggie's Farm in Lebanon

The Coventry Market specializes in organic, heirloom, ethnic and gourmet varieties of fruits and vegetables, and offers grass-fed beef, free-range eggs, milk, yogurt, smoked bacon, rustic breads, farmstead cheeses, European pastries, salsa, pesto, fresh herbs, cut flowers, chocolate, fudge, honey, and maple syrup, and also features the work of local artists and artisans including hemp clothing, goat’s milk soaps, beeswax candles, stoneware, herbal tinctures, handcrafted beadwork, vintage cotton tote bags, and handspun yarns.

Terra Firma Farm in Stonington

Provider Farm in Salem

What a wonderful way to support your local farmers and all the hard work they do to produce healthy, nutritious, and delicious food!

Happy Shopping!
-Melissa

Announcing the NOFA Summer Conference Workshop Tracks

Attention farmers, gardeners and landscapers!

The NOFA Summer Conference on August 10-12 features a host of workshop tracks to suit your needs!  If you are in need of valuable information about getting started in farming, operating a CSA program, earning AOLCP credits, and more, this conference has it all!  Here are some of the tracks that will be offered at the conference:

• Beginning Farmer Track: This track highlights a range of technical and farm-planning topics of particular interest to farmers with fewer than ten years of independent farming experience. Don't forget, if you've been farming for less than ten years, you may qualify for a scholarship to attend the conference.  You can fill out a scholarship application form online here. Please submit by July 2 in order to have your application reviewed and granted in time for you to register early.

• Community Supported Agriculture Track: Presenting a variety of innovations for the CSA model.

• Nutrient Density Track: Presenting principles of biological farming aimed at improving crop nutritional quality for a variety of scales and applications. Own own Connecticut farmer, Bryam O'Hara from Tobacco Road Farm in Lebanon, CT will be teaching a workshop in this track.

• Organic Land Care Track: Attending these workshops qualifies participants for credits in the NOFA Organic Land Care Program. Other AOLCP credit opportunities can be found on our website.

• Permaculture Track: Presenting permaculture approaches to organic agriculture and ecological design.

• Winter Growing and Season Extension Track: Presenting innovations from the farm to the home scale for growing and storing crops year round

View a full list of tracks by visiting the Summer Conference website.  You can also register for the conference here.  For a list of registration fees, click here.  We can't wait to see you at the conference!

Happy Solstice!
-Melissa

Our first Block Party is less than two weeks away!

June 23, 2012
The Hickories
Ridgefield, CT
6:00-9:00pm   

 

CT NOFA is turning 30 this year! Join us in a kickoff to celebrate the next 30 years of great food, fun, and community! We will be holding several parties throughout the summer, with our first to be held at The Hickories farm in Ridgefield. Farmer Dina Brewster will be your host and there will be a guided farm tour, a wine tasting by Cellar XV and very hip food truck dinner catered by Taco Pacifico.

Dessert will be provided by The Cake Box, along with local brewery samples from Southport Brewing Company. Organic teas will be supplied by Steaz. The night will include live music by Jon Bauerfeld. Our beloved Executive Director, Bill Duesing, will be there to greet and talk to all about the importance of our local community.

Dina Brewster on her farm.

 

Tickets for this exciting evening are $40 each. Online registration is available HERE or just call 203-888-5146 to reserve yours today. What a great way to spend a summer's evening, on the farm with friends and neighbors enjoying live music and tasty local food!

 

And just in case you want to have your cake and eat it too, if you volunteer with us for the event, you can get in for free! Come in and set up before and during the event to have your ticket price waived. What a deal! Volunteer space is limited, however, so contact Melissa today for details about how you can get involved.

It's Almost Summer Farmers Market Season!

As you know from our Winter Food Project, farmers markets aren't just a harvest-time occurrence.  They happen year-round across the state, and a whole host of them will be opening up in May and June and run through the fall.  A listing of the markets where our members sell goods can be found on our website, and you can also view a complete listing of markets on the Department of Agriculture website.

And don't forget, markets don't just sell produce!  You can often use a farmers market as a one-stop shop for all your grocery needs, from delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, to meat, seafood, dairy, sweets, coffee, baked goods, prepared foods, and even some inedible items like wool, beeswax, and crafts.  Give your local market a phone call or check out their website to learn more about their vendors.  Going to a market is a wonderful way to get your grocery shopping done while having a great time and heading home with the freshest goods available!

CT NOFA will be tabling at many upcoming markets this spring through fall.  Check out our website and sign up for our Gleanings eNewsletter to receive regular updates on where we will be and when.  For now, however, here is where we are confirmed so far:

Ellington Farmers Market
Saturday May 12, 2012
9:00-12:00pm
Arbor Park on Route #286/ Main Street
Ellington, CT

Downtown Milford Farmers Market
Saturday July 7, 2012
9:00-1:00pm
58 River Street
Milford, CT

Manchester - CCC Farmer's Market
Thursday August 9, 2012
3:00-6:00pm
35 Oakland Street
Manchester, CT

Higganum Village Farmers Market (tentative)
Friday August 10, 2012
3:30-6:30pm
Higganum Green (intersection of Routes 154 and 81)
Higganum, CT

Stay tuned for more and have a great afternoon!
-Melissa

It's Not too Late to Sign up for a CSA Share!

It is one of the most anticipated times of the year for Connecticut food-lovers, spring.  Connecticut Grown produce is becoming available at local farmers markets, health food stores and farm stands.  Another option for Connecticut’s locavores is buying a share at a farm that has Community Supported Agriculture or a CSA.  Many CSAs in our state are looking for new members!

Below is a list of CT farms that are still have shares available for the 2012 season.  For a longer CSA list please visit our website, and if you don't see your CSA listed on the website and want us to add it, please let us know.

Fairfield County

The Hickories

Simpaug Farms, Ridgefield

The Hickories, Ridgefield

Hartford County

Beckett Farms, Glastonbury

Bristol's Farm, Canton

Deercrest Farm, Glastonbury

Easy Pickin's Orchard, Enfield 

George Hall Farm, Simsbury

HighlandArt Farm, Marlborough

Holcomb Farm, West Granby

Oxen Hill Farm, Suffield

Renaissance Farm, Burlington

Tulmeadow Farm, West Simsbury

George Hall Farm

Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain

Windham Gardens, Granby

Litchfield  County

Adamah Farm, Falls Village

Beaver Meadow, Litchfield

Clatter Valley Farm, New Milford

Local Farm, Cornwall Bridge

Maple View Farm, Harwinton
Sun One Organic Farm, Bethlehem

Wright Farm, Goshen
Waldingfield Farm, Washington

Middlesex County

Barberry Hill Farm

Starlight Gardens, Durham

New Haven County
Barberry Hill Farm, Madison
Bodhichitta Farms, Prospect
Eve’s Corner Garden CSA, Bethany
Farmer Joe’s Gardens, Wallingford
Gazy Brother’s Farm, Oxford
Hindinger Farm, Hamden
Massaro Farm, Woodbridge
Turtle Ridge Cooperative, New Haven Area
Robert Treat Farm, Milford

Studio Farm

New London County
FRESH New London, New London
Huntsbrook Farm, Quaker Hill
Philomel Gardens, Preston
Studio Farm, North Stonington
Scott’s Yankee Farmer, East Lyme
Provider Farm, Salem 

Tolland County
Down to Earth CSA, Stafford

Windham County
Devon Point Farm, Woodstock
Wayne’s Organic Garden, Oneco

A CSA is a program that allows consumers to directly support local farmers.  You can become a shareholder or subscriber by paying a membership fee upfront at the start of the growing season. This fee covers production costs and in return, a member receives a regular supply of local, Connecticut food.  The cost and size of the share is pre-determined by the farmer, generally by produce value or weight.  You can find a share that is the right size for you and your family, and if the share seems too large, split it with a friend or neighbor!  Some CSAs offer working shares that charge a discounted membership fee in exchange for volunteer work on the farm.  No matter how you look at it, CSAs are good for your wallet, the environment, and your health!

The CSAs, Community Farms and Specialty Crops Program of Connecticut NOFA is funded by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program of the Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.  

Looking for a Job This Spring?

If you are looking for a farming or agriculture related opportunity this planting season, check out our community board.  We have many new postings opening up for the new (and early) farming season, so now's the time to take a look!

Here are a couple of opportunities that are so new we haven't even had time to post them yet:

Community Gardener (New Haven)
Status: Part Time 20-25 hour a week beginning mid-March through mid-October
Salary: $15.00 per hour

The LCS Community Gardener will work directly with Day Program clients to develop, manage, and maintain the Liberty Springside Community Garden -- a shared community garden. The selected individual will work closely with both clients of LCS and the Westville Community Land Trust. The gardener is expected to interact daily with clients of LCS, and oversee all operations of the garden.

The selected individual must be knowledgeable in understanding and interacting with the homeless population LCS serves, as well as knowledgeable in horticultural best practices for organic gardening.

Requirements:
The individual must possess a valid Conn. Driver's license, and have reliable transportation.
Must be willing to work an occasional weekend if necessary.
Must be able to climb stairs, climb in and out of vehicles, lift up to 25 pounds, work in changing weather conditions.
Must be able to use most gardening equipment including roto tiller, shovels, trowels, etc.

Mail, fax or email resumes to:
Liberty Community Services, Inc.
Human Resources
129 Church St , 2nd Floor
New Haven , CT 06510

PFP Seeks Garden Education Apprentice
The Poughkeepsie Farm Project is a non-profit organization that works toward a
just and sustainable food system in the Mid-Hudson Valley by operating a
member-supported farm, providing education about food and farming, and
improving access to healthy locally-grown food.

We're seeking a dependable and good-natured apprentice with an active interest in food and education as well as an interest in working towards a just and sustainable food system; good communication skills; the ability to take initiative and a desire to be a part of bringing about positive community change.

To apply, please fill out our application (available at the website) and email
it along with your resume to jamie@farmproject.org
For more information, please visit our website, farmproject.org or
http://farmproject.org/content/work-opportunities

The Coventry WinterFresh Farmers' Market

Coventry WinterFresh Market Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sunday, two of our staff members, myself included, went to table at the Coventry WinterFresh Farmers' Market in Coventry, CT, out by Tolland and the University of Connecticut.  The event was wonderful - as someone who had never been to the Coventry Market before, I was thoroughly impressed by both the turnout of attendees and the selection of goods for sale.  It may be the end of winter - that tricky time of year when stored produce from the fall starts to run out while it's still too early to begin planting many summertime favorites - but that doesn't mean you can't find a variety of delicious options from local producers.  In this respect the Coventry Market is a real winner.  The locally grown and produced goods really cover all bases, from seafood to greenhouse and storage produce, to diary, meat, baked goods, and even hot sauce!  Not to mention the stands selling inedible items like beeswax candles, clothing, and cutting boards.  This market is a great example of what CT NOFA is trying to promote with its Winter Food Project: increased access to safe, healthy, local food throughout the year.  The first step in that process is to get the word out about what is available year-round in the state, so tell your friends about this and other winter markets listed on our website.

Here is a brief description of the Winter Market, as provided by the Coventry Market's website:

A photo of me next to CT NOFA's table and display board

Coventry WinterFresh Farmers’ Market brings you more than 30 local farmers and specialty food producers, from 11-2, Sundays, at Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Rd. in Coventry, Connecticut. Running from November 20 through the end of February, our WinterFresh Market makes it easier to eat seasonally and locally through the depths of winter. We offer the freshest, tastiest food grown and produced in the state every Sunday, in a warm, indoor setting with good parking and easy access. We’ve lured the best farmers and food producers in Connecticut! We think you’ll be impressed! 

This was a great event for us to table at because it not only served as an easy informal way to reach audiences that didn't previously know about CT NOFA and our programs, but also was a wonderful opportunity to do a little grocery shopping!  If you'd like to come table for CT NOFA at a farmers market this spring, send me an email.  We have many volunteer opportunities coming up at markets and outreach events across the state, especially as Earth Day in April draws closer.  Volunteering for us is fun, educational, and often delicious!

Have a great afternoon!
-Melissa

Why Local Farming is Important

Rebecca Kline of New Haven Farms stands at the site
of a proposed community garden in New Haven. 

An excerpt from a recent Huffinton Post Article about our local (and impressive) Common Ground Farm and High School reads, "In a 1787 letter to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson wrote, 'Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will, in the end, contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.' In short, farming produces not only food, but also the foundation for a good life." Growing the number of farms in our state addresses more than just food access and nutrition; it also fills a cultural void that has been present in our country ever since industrial agriculture stole the spotlight from traditional community-based means of food production. Without local farms available in and around the places where we live and work, we suffer emotionally and culturally as well as physically. In communities where there aren't many remaining farms, losing another one can be especially unsettling, as is the case with Purdy's Farm in Greenwich, one of only two farms left in the town.

But there is light on the horizon. Of late there has been a new resurgence in the number of new people, many of whom have never farmed before, developing an interest in local sustainable agriculture. In New Haven, the same city in Connecticut that Common Ground calls home, a nonprofit called New Haven Farms has set its sights on creating a new urban community farm that aims to feed 250 people in the surrounding area. Additionally, other nonprofits and farming organizations like the NOFA state chapters have implemented programs to help teach and train a new generation of farmers.

If you are interested in starting a sustainable farm and want to learn more about taking the first steps, join CT NOFA and a group of other established and prospective farmers this Saturday at the Getting Started in Organic Farming Conference in Rockfall, CT. Come and learn about the topics that are most integral to starting your farm - land access, leasing, marketing, and more. To learn more about the conference and to register, check out our website. Working together, we can change the culture of farming in our state and in our country.

Have a great day!
-Melissa

Turning Away from Corporate America Toward Farming

Courtesy of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

There's been a lot of buzz lately about young people becoming increasingly interested in farming and specifically in organic production.  Back on the 12th, NPR ran an article on it's food blog, The Salt, about a push among young people to abandon corporate life in favor of a more agrarian alternative.  Disillusioned with stifling corporate values, and in response to an economy where the daily grind is less likely to yield positive results, thousands of people are returning to the land.  Another recent article by MSNBC points out that, although farming is inherently risky and expensive getting started, agriculture has fared better than many other parts of the economy during the recession.  Many young people see farming as a calculated risk; one that has a greater likelihood than an office job of working out to their advantage, whether the gains lay in profits or in emotional well-being.  With more than 60% of current farmers over the age of 55, we need a new generation of young farmers to prevent reliance on an ever-decreasing number of producers.

If you are getting started as an organic farmer and need some help tackling big challenges like land access and marketing, register for our Getting Started in Organic Farming Conference to be held Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the CT Forest and Park Association in Rockfall, CT.  Don't miss this opportunity to network with other new farmers and learn from the experts about how to be successful.  You can learn more and register here.  If you've been farming for less than 10 years you may qualify for a scholarship: find out here.

Have a wonderful afternoon!
-Melissa

Are You a New or Transitioning Organic Farmer?

Register today for our Getting Started in Organic Farming Conference to be held Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the CT Forests and Parks Association in Rockfall, CT!  A new article by Grist shows that new farmers cite land access and funding as the major stumbling blocks against becoming established in the industry, but that apprenticeships, local partnerships, and CSAs represent areas of growth.  Attending the conference will help beginning organic farmers become more familiar with available resources, both in areas of growth and in areas of need, and will help to give a well-rounded perspective through exposure to broad themes as well as technically specific topics.  Click here to learn more and to register!

You can also get involved with your local congressperson to change the upcoming Farm Bill.  The Bill process is now restarting, and Congress needs to be reminded why our nation needs a Farm Bill that is responsive to current changing agricultural needs.  Tell your congressperson to sponsor the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011, which fixes, funds and improves USDA programs, as well as adds new programs to help young and beginning farmers succeed.  The process of getting started as a farmer should be easier, and it can be easier, if we exercise our rights and let our voices be heard.

Have a great evening!
-Melissa